Piasecki 16H Pathfinder
Piasecki Aircraft · United States · first flew 1962 · helicopter
The Piasecki 16H was a series of compound helicopters produced in the 1960s, built as experimental high-speed helicopters.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Compound helicopter with fixed wings of 10 m span
- Single turboshaft engine
- Main rotor 13.4 m in diameter on the Pathfinder II
A compound helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with 16H-1A power of 1,250 shp.
Specifications
- The Piasecki 16H Pathfinder has a length of 11.4 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.4 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 370 km/h (230 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first version of the Pathfinder, the 16H-1, first flew on 21 February 1962. The larger Pathfinder II, the 16H-1A, was completed in 1965 and first flew on 15 November 1965.
Variants
The 16H-1 used a 405 shp PWC PT6B-2 turboshaft. The 16H-1A Pathfinder II was larger with a 1,250 shp General Electric T58-GE-8. A 16H-1C Pathfinder III with a T58-GE-5 was proposed, and a nine-seat 16H-3J was not built.
Where you'll see it
The United States Army was the primary user. The 16H-1A carried two pilots and up to six passengers, with a maximum speed of 370 km/h.
Related aircraft
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